Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-03-31
JOSEPH SOLD TO EGYPT.
CRITICAL AND PRACTICAL NOTES BY
PROF. SAMUEL !. CURTlSS.

Golden Text, Genesis xxx, 21.
Jacob had twelve sons. Two of them, Jo-
seph and Benjamin, were by his wife Rachel,
who would doubtless have been his only wife
had it not been for the greed Of Laban. The
narrative with which we are concerned in
this lesson shows some of the evils of polyga-
my. The eldest son was Reuben, but the
elder son of Rachel, although really the elev-
enth in the order of his birth, was Joseph.
Taken all in all, he is the most beautiful char
acter Of Old Testament history. No wonder
his father loved him In view of Reuben's
lust, and Simeon and Lewis cruelty, and the
evil report that came from some Of his other
sons, he not only gave him the preference be-
cause he was Rachel's son and the son Of his
old age, but perhaps intended to give him
the rights of the first born. We may sup
pose that the mark of distinction which he
put upon him in clothing him with coat Of
many colors, or, as the margin Of the revised
version reads, in accordance with the view of
the majority of scholars, in clothing him with
long tunic having sleeves and reaching to
his feet, was an indication Of his intention as
well as his special fondness for Joseph.
This aroused the jealousy of his brothers,
which was still further awakened by his
wonderful dreams regarding his brothers
sheaves bowling down to his sheaf and in re-
spect of the sun and moon and eleven stars
showing him royal honors. These were not
merely fancies Of a bright and ambitious
mind, but were doubtless communications
from God himself. From this time on, with
the exception of one chapter, the book Of
Genesis is occupied with Joseph as the cen-S
tral figure in the history.
At the time when this chapter opens, Jacob
was dwelling in Hebron, but his sons, with
the exception Of the two youngest, were pas
turing his focks in the vicinity Of Shechem,
which had been the scene of the frightful
massacre by Simeon and Levi. DR.. Thomson
tells us, from his observations in the Orient,
that it is not at all surprising that the sons of
Jacob should so soon have visited place which
seemed to be so much fraught with danger.
Perhaps for this reason Jacob was concerned
about them and particularly anxious to know
about their welfare. In any case his desire
was natural one to get tidings from them,
when there was probably no other way of
hearing from them.
At his fathers command Joseph undertook
the Journey from Hebron to Shechem, which
would require more than two days and which
involved no little peril on account of lions,
bears, panthers and wolves, which infested
the country at that time.
On arriving at Shechem he failed to find
his brethren. As he was wandering about in
search of them he learned that they had gone
to Dothan Tor the two wells), place nearly
twelve miles north Of Shechem. When they
saw him coming, instead Of being glad to see
him, they agreed to kill him, to cast him into
pit, and to report to their father that he had
been devoured by a wild beast. Reuben,
however, persuaded them to cast him alive
into pit, with the intention of rescuing him
and restoring him to his father. These pits
are common in Palestine. They are in the
shape of q demijohn, and are designed to hold
rain ssa+or.- -Dnring part of the year they are
dry, and were often used as dungeons, and
although sometimes not deep, yet, on account
of their peculiar shape, it would be impossi-
bic to climb out.
THE LESSON
Joseph In the Pit Tvs %, 2A.-With enRag
ing frankness and confidence the handsome
youth came to his brothers only to be roughly
seized by them, and notwithstanding his en-
treaties, which were enough to melt heart
of stone Gen. xiii, 2D, they stripped him
of his beautiful garment and rVdely thrust
him into q pit
v. 25 Their utter unconcern for the crime
which they intended to commit was mani
tested by their sitting down to eat compare
Prov. XXX, 20. Their hearts were as hard
as the hearts of those who live on the
hire of the gambler, the drunkard or the fall
len; but the time was coming when they
were to be tormented with the memory Of
that hour Gen xiii, 21; ], 1913. As they
10 ,ked up they saw a caravan Of Ishmaelites,
who were on their way to Egypt.
Ioeav,b GoLd fxy. II H. ,l,..-,,.
Reuben, Judah, who was born for leadership,
proposed that they should sell him as slave
He said that thus they would avoid shedding
tFe blood of one who was their own flesh.
TIE proposition pleased his brethren As the
L ,maelites came to hand they were dis
covered to be Midianitish merchantmen.
Joseph, therefore, was drawn up from the pit
and sold for twenty pieces Of silver, or ten
shel1els less than the ordinary price of slave,
although boys from to 20 years Of age were
sod for the same amount as Joseph Nev.
xvii, s..
vs. %, 80 Meanwhile Reuben returned
ard went TO the pit, only to find that Joseph :.
was gone. In the report which he gives to
his brethren he manifssts the same lack Of
di nifty and control which appear later on,
and which are marks of the instability Of
which his father complains when he says, in
after years, Unstable as water, thou shalt
not excel" tGen. xix, A..
Jacobs Bitter Cup Tvs. 3i-SS.-Jscob was
once more to drink the cup Of deception to
the very dregs which he had pressed 10 his
fathers lips years before, and which he had
already found so bitter. His sons kill he
goat, they dip Joseph's mantle in Il, send it to
their father, saying that they have found it,
and ask whether he recognizes it as his sons
ccat The plan succeeds. He believes, as they
wish to have him, that Joseph is torn in pieces.
But although they had succeeded in deceivirg
their father, the subsequent record shows
how there came terrible awakening when
they felt, perhaps for the rest Of their lives,
the pangs of guilty conscience.
Jacob Not Comforted Tvs. 81, S5l.-Jacob
was overwhelmed with grief. As is custom
ary among Orientals be rent his clothes and
put sackcloth upon his loins. Although his
sons and daughters sought to comfort him,
he refused to be comforted. Heaven had not
thnn been clearly revealed, although we read
in the New Testament that the patriarchs
were seeking a heavenly country Heb. H,
49, We have no evidence that he knew any
thing of the resurrection. For him there was
no comfort in the hope Of reunion with
Joseph in the future life. He could think
only of his son in the dark, shadowy abode Of
sheol (See the Revised Version, margin to So,
for Jesus had not brought life and immortal
ity to light through the gospel III Tim, i, 10.
Gods Plan ". Although Jacob was now
suffering for the deception which he hepracticed
on his father, yet God was, after all. causing
all things to work together for his good. 1twas
a necessary part of Gods plan, as we shall see
that Joseph should go to Egypt.
Hence the Midianites were furthering Gods
plan when they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an
officer OF Pharaoh, who was chief OF the ex-
ecutioners. Gods plan was carried out even
by Joseph's brethren compare Matt XVI.
pa; but they were to suffer something of tbs
voc which befalls evil doers even in this life.
POINTS TO BE REMEMRERED.
1. Jealousy often makes men murdersrs.
q God has established different classes in
ociety. The attempt TO break down such
natural distinctions, through communism or
Inarchism, leads to madness and murder.
8. Sin brings its own punishment
4. We should be thankful for him who has
brought life and immortality to light in the
gospel.
8. God overrules the wickedness OF men for
rood in the fulfillment of his purposes (Ps